September 17, 1944: Operation Market Garden begins. The Allied intention is to secure key bridges over a series of rivers and canals in Holland to achieve a rapid advance onto the north German plain. In a massive display of air supremacy, Allied forces launch a huge airborne attack in an attempt to secure a bridgehead over the Rhine River and Arhnem. Over 1,500 planes and 500 gliders drop elements of three airborne divisions into Holland in an attempt to capture a corridor leading from Eindhoven to Arnhem that crosses five water bodies including two major river bridges. The initial landings are a great success - on the first day, the US 101st Airborne Division secures bridges at Veghel and Son. The US 82nd Airborne Division secures the bridge at Grave but not the one at Nijmegen. The British 1st Airborne Division, dropped near Arnhem, fails to secure the bridge there because of unexpected German resistance. Unknown to Allied planners, the 9th SS Hohenstaufen and 10th SS Frundsberg Panzer Divisions are located in Arnhem for rest and refit from combat on the Eastern Front. Meanwhile, the British 30th Corps (part of British 2nd Army) attacks northward toward Eindhoven to relieve the paratroopers. To the west, Canadian forces, also part of British 21st Army Group, launch an attack on Boulogne after a preparatory bombing by the RAF.
The Market Garden airborne assault is in conjunction with an armored drive by the elite British XXX Corps spearheaded by the Guards Armored Division. They run into very determined and unexpected resistance, advancing only 7 miles on the first day. US 56th Fighter Group loses sixteen out of thirty-nine P-47D Thunderbolt aircraft on flak suppression duties in support of the operation.
In France, the siege of Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais, begins. With 1 Corps grounded from lack of transport, the only available formation is the 3rd Canadian Division (less one brigade but reinforced with some armor and medium regiments of artillery). Despite being smaller than Le Havre, Boulogne proves to be very difficult, with deep underground fortifications as well as surrounding forts, minefields and anti-tank ditches. Heavy bombing on the opening day fails to destroy the numerous German gun batteries, making the siege more difficult than expected.
US 1st Army attacks around Aachen and Schnee Eifel and US 3rd Army remains heavily engaged around Metz and Arnaville. US 7th Army pushes north toward Moselle River. VIII Corps of US 9th Army assaults Brest.
Over northwestern Europe, US 9th Air Force supports ground troops and attacks German positions around Brest. RAF Bomber Command sends 762 aircraft to attack Boulogne during the day. US 8th Air Force utilizes 101 B-24 bombers to fly fuel to France.
On the eastern front, the Soviet 3rd Baltic Front is smashing the German 18th Army around Tartu. Polish 1st Army of Soviet 1st Belorussian Front secures fragile bridgehead across the Vistula in Warsaw overnight.
In Italy, the battle at the German ‘Gothic Line’ continues as the US 85th Division captures Monte Altuzzo, while other US units capture Lucca, Monte Liguana, Il Giogo Pass, Monte Pratone, Monte Monticelli, Marcoiano, Torricela Hill, and Monte Peschiena. To the east, Indian 4th Division attacks German 278th Infantry Division in San Marino. US 12th Air Force aircraft attack targets around Gothic Line and in northern Italy.
Pictured: A Loyd carrier of the anti-tank platoon of 3rd Battalion, Irish Guards explodes during British XXX Corps' advance toward Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands, September 17, 1944.; Reconnaissance photograph showing Dakota aircraft dropping paratroopers of 1st Airborne Brigade on to Dropping Zone 'X', at Renkum, west of Arnhem, Operation Market I, September 17, 1944.; An American C-47 aircraft, hit by flak returning from the Market-Garden drop, burning after crash-landing into a knocked-out German Jagdpanther near Gheel, Belgium, September 17, 1944.; Sherman tanks of the UK Irish Guards Group advancing past Sherman tanks knocked out in previous actions, the Netherlands, September 17, 1944.